Diffraction limited imaging of high redshift galaxies with adaptive optics
Abstract
The major cornerstone of future ground-based astronomy is imaging and spectroscopy at the diffraction limit using adaptive optics (AO) with natural (NGS) and/or artificial laser guide stars (LGS). To exploit the potential of current AO systems, we have begun a survey around bright stars to study intermediate redshift galaxies at high resolution. Using ALFA to reach the diffraction limit of the 3.5-m telescope at Calar Alto allows us to study the structure of distant galaxies in the near-infrared at scales of 100-150 pc for z=0.05 and at scales 1.0-1.5 kpc at z=1. In this contribution we present the initial results of this project, and the exciting prospects with the resolution and sensitivity available using NAOS+CONICA on the 8-m class VLT.
- Publication:
-
Galaxies and their Constituents at the Highest Angular Resolutions
- Pub Date:
- January 2001
- DOI:
- 10.48550/arXiv.astro-ph/0010129
- arXiv:
- arXiv:astro-ph/0010129
- Bibcode:
- 2001IAUS..205..455D
- Keywords:
-
- Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 2 page contribution to IAU symposium 205 (Aug 2000) on 'Galaxies and their Constituents at the Highest Angular Resolutions'